The NFL Draft is rapidly approaching. The draft kicks off on Thursday, April 23, and will last three days, with hundreds of prospects added to the 32 NFL teams. This is a big time for dynasty, too, as landing spots and paths to touches can impact prospect value. Over the next few pieces, I’ll be looking at NFL teams with a positional group need that could make for a good landing spot for prospects.
Today, I’m looking at the running back spot. This class has a great prospect and some good ones. Given the rise of running back by committee, adding competition and options has never been more important. While some teams are in good shape, others may look to the draft to add some pop. Below are 15 teams that could be looking for running backs in the draft, ranked in order of biggest need.
#1 Washington Commanders
On the Roster: Rachaad White, Jerome Ford, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, and Jeremy McNichols
About: The Commanders tried to roll without the backfield in 2025. They traded away Brian Robinson, Jr., and then saw Austin Ekeler go down with a season (career) ending injury. That left a late-round rookie in Croskey-Merritt to lead the way, along with McNichols and Chris Rodriguez. It didn’t work. While Rodriguez left in free agency, the team brought back McNichols and added veterans Ford and White on one-year deals. The options are better, but this is still a team that needs a long-term answer at a key position. They could be one of the teams to seize on Jeremiah Love, if he’s still on the board. Either way, it’s clear they need more.
#2 Tennessee Titans
On the Roster: Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears, Michael Carter, Kalel Mullings, Julius Chestnut, and Blake Watson
About: The Titans have the fourth overall pick, and they need to add weapons for Offensive Coordinator Brian Daboll around last year’s first overall pick, Cam Ward. Pollard has been a good lead back since coming over from the Cowboys, but he is in the final year of his contract, was brought in by the previous regime, and is arguably better suited as a complementary back at this point. Behind him, the Titans don’t have much, especially since Spears cannot stay healthy. The Titans have a lot of needs, but they’ve often been tabbed as taking Love at pick four in mock drafts. That would make sense. Even if they go another way in the First Round, I think they’ll grab a back in this draft.
#3 Jacksonville Jaguars
On the Roster: Bhayshul Tuten, LeQuint Allen, Chris Rodriguez, Jr., DeeJay Dallas, Ja’Quinden Jackson
About: The Jaguars lost Travis Etienne in free agency and traded Tank Bigsby to the Eagles last season. That removed the top two options to start last season from the backfield. Letting Etienne go could signal confidence in Tuten as the lead back, as could bringing in a complementary piece like Rodriguez. But I think the Jaguars—who finished 13-4 last season- will want some more pop. Snagging an affordable back with upside to add to a committee mix makes a lot of sense.
#4 New York Giants
On the Roster: Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy, Devin Singletary, Eric Gray, and Dante Miller
About: I wouldn’t have had the Giants high on this list based on the roster. Tracy has been solid, Singletary is a strong veteran, and Skattebo exploded as a rookie. And yet, there are questions. The new coaching staff has seemingly been quite focused on making a major addition to the backfield, even being in on pursuing Ken Walker III. I still like Skattebo, but he’s an injury risk who has made some questionable off-field comments. John Harbaugh doesn’t seem sold on Tracy and Singletary behind him, either. I suspect the Giants will make a move to grab a back in this draft to pair with Skattebo.
#5 Seattle Seahawks
On the Roster: Zach Charbonnet, George Holani, Emanuel Wilson, Kenny McIntosh, Velus Jones, Jr., Cam Akers, and Jacardia Wright
About: The Seahawks won the Super Bowl largely on the strength of Ken Walker III, who was named Super Bowl MVP. Then they let him walk in free agency. While the team obviously likes and believes in Charbonnet, his recovery from an ACL tear in the playoffs leaves questions. The team added Wilson, a solid complementary back, and believes in Holani. The Seahawks also have a lot of options for depth on the roster. But it would still make sense to strike in the draft and grab someone to pair with Charbonnet to lead the backfield. The Seahawks don’t have a lot of roster holes, so grabbing one at the back of the First or Second Round would make sense.
#6 Minnesota Vikings
On the Roster: Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason, and Zavier Scott
About: The Vikings brought back Jones on a one-year deal. They also brought in Mason before last season. That gives them some options, but this is a small group that doesn’t provide much long-term security. For a team with other pieces on offense and defense that could be poised for a playoff run, addressing the backfield makes a ton of sense. I could see them taking a running back as early as the Second-Round.
#7 Baltimore Ravens
On the Roster: Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, and Rasheen Ali
About: The Ravens still have Henry, and he’s a beast. They also still have Hill, who has been a strong complementary back. The team has a new staff that might have a different approach, but it would make sense to reload in the backfield. Henry figures to still be a key contributor in 2026, but he’s getting older and has a lot of carries on him. I suspect the Ravens will make a move to grab a young back to add to the mix at some point in the draft.
#8 Houston Texans
On the Roster: David Montgomery, Woody Marks, and Jawhar Jordan
About: The Texans made a trade to add Montgomery, giving them a lead back for 2026. They also have Marks, a 2025 selection who looks good in a complementary role. Beyond that, the team lacks depth. Given the injuries and other concerns, it would make sense to add options for a team hoping to compete for a playoff spot in the AFC. I suspect a mid-round selection.
#9 Denver Broncos
On the Roster: J.K. Dobbins, R.J. Harvey, Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie, Cody Schrader, and Deuce Vaughn
About: After a successful season that saw the Broncos finish as the AFC’s No. 1 seed and make the AFC Championship Game, the team was focused on getting more out of the running game. Then they brought the band back together, re-signing Dobbins and McLaughlin to return with Harvey and Badie. Perhaps the thought is to be more efficient. Perhaps the hope is that Dobbins will stay healthy. But the Broncos were in on big free agent backs, despite not landing one. I suspect they’ll look to add competition in the draft. But given the team’s lack of draft capital after the Jaylen Waddle trade, that will likely come as a Day Three pick.
#10 Indianapolis Colts
On the Roster: Jonathan Taylor, D.J. Giddens, and Ulysses Bentley IV
About: The Colts don’t need a starter. They have a great workhorse back in Taylor. He’s a three-down weapon. But they lack depth behind him. Giddens is solid, but that’s not enough. I suspect the Colts will be a team looking to add depth in the draft.
#11 Las Vegas Raiders
On the Roster: Ashton Jeanty, Dylan Laube, and Chris Collier
About: The Raiders are in the same boat as the Colts. Jeanty is a great, three-down starter. Despite a terrible and terribly inefficient offense in 2025, Jeanty finished his rookie year as a Top 12 back. Now, with Klint Kubiak, he should soar. But the team lacks depth behind him, and the reality of the modern NFL is that you need options. The Raiders figure to use a mid-to-late-round selection to bolster this group.
#12 Green Bay Packers
On the Roster: Josh Jacobs, Chris Brooks, MarShawn Lloyd, Pierre Strong, Jr., and Damien Martinez
About: The Packers’ backfield will be led by Jacobs, who is a great star. But the team’s primary backup, Emanuel Wilson, left for the Seahawks this offseason. Perhaps the team believes in Brooks. Perhaps Lloyd can finally stay healthy and contribute. Or maybe the additions of Strong and Martinez will get them through. But I think it’s also possible the Packers look to add depth to this backfield in the later rounds.
#13 Kansas City Chiefs
On the Roster: Ken Walker III, Brashard Smith, Emari Demercado, and ShunDerrick Powell
About: The Chiefs made their big swing in free agency, landing the Super Bowl MVP in Walker on a three-year deal. He figures to lead the backfield. They also have an interesting young prospect in Smith and a veteran in Demercado to round out the group. But it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Chiefs add another young player, especially since they’ve struck gold with Seventh-Round picks in the past.
#14 Dallas Cowboys
On the Roster: Javonte Williams, Malik Davis, Jaydon Blue, Phil Mafah, and Israel Abanikanda
About: The Cowboys have long been rumored to grab a running back in the draft, but have passed it up. Last season, they brought in Williams on a one-year deal, and he soared as the lead back. He was re-signed to a long-term deal this offseason. He figures to be the lead back again. Behind him, the team has veteran Davis and a pair of second-year guys, Blue and Mafah, who could take a step forward. But it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that the Cowboys add another back to the mix in the draft.
#15 Cincinnati Bengals
On the Roster: Chase Brown, Samaje Perine, Tahj Boyd, Gary Brightwell, and Kendall Milton
About: These Bengals are the Wild Card. It’s not that this group is unassailable; it’s just that it didn’t seem like running back was the biggest need. And yet, they brought in Love for a pre-draft visit. They have a pick high enough that if Love slips past the Titans and Commanders, he could be in play. It would be a big swing, but it would make the Bengals a team worth at least monitoring.
Matthew Fox is a die-hard NFL fan and Broncos’ homer. He’s a member of the FSWA. You can find more from him on Twitter @knighthawk7734 or as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast, a part of the Campus2Canton Network.
